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We as we begin I want you to read with me article 5 of the confession and understand this the the the titles that come in this are actually added later. The original writing of the confession did not have these titles but a later writer came in and added them on.
So we're using the titles I think it's I think they're correct. I'm just saying that we're calling each one by the title that's in this book. And so the title of article 5 is Providence. And this is what it says.
God in his infinite power and wisdom doth dispose all things to the end for which they were created that neither good nor evil befalls any by chance or without his providence and that whatsoever befalls the elect is by his appointment for his glory and their good.
So tonight we're going to talk about a theological distinction that I think is important for us to understand. Theologians are made or rather are known for making distinctions because this is how we understand truth as we distinguish between one thing and something else.
And so oftentimes you will hear us talk about the sovereignty of God the sovereignty of God. And then you heard last week me talk about the decree of God. That was my lesson which was article 3 and tonight we're going to talk about the providence of God.
And I want to in my time at least for the first few moments of my time distinguish between what these three words mean because we do often use them somewhat synonymously but yet each one of them has a distinguishable meaning and understanding them will help us understand better this article.
Because you might say that article 5 and article 3 which I taught on last week are somewhat superfluous. They both are talking about God's sovereignty. But they're talking about two different aspects of God's sovereignty.
So when we say sovereignty what we are referring to is we are referring to God's rule. Sovereignty refers to rule. If you if you think of a sovereign nation what does that mean self-rule. Right. It doesn't depend on another nation.
It's a sovereign nation. There is a king in some countries what do they call the king. He is the sovereign of that nation. There are people who believe in something called sovereign citizenship. You ever heard that sovereign citizenship is the idea that every American is his own ruler and therefore there shouldn't be any laws that govern those individuals.
And some of those people have tried to for instance not pay taxes because they are sovereign citizens. And many of those sovereign citizens have ended up in the jail of a greater sovereign. So it's just interesting though when you think of the word sovereign it's the word for rule or the or another word would be authority or power.
So that's let's put authority here. When we say God is sovereign we are saying God is the ruler. He is the authority. He has all power. He is God. To say that God is sovereign as a W pink said to say that God is sovereign is simply to say God is God.
Because you can't have an unsovereign God all right. You can't have a non-sovereign sovereign because God means sovereign and means God he's sovereign. Right. So sovereign is his power. Now the decree is God's purposeful and perfect plan.
So the decree refers to God's plan. How he is exercising his rule is first by planning his world. You know the Bible talks about God being outside of time. I don't understand how that works. I really don't.
I don't understand a timeless being. I don't understand an infinite being. I had a I was I did a podcast earlier I was talking about modernism and postmodernism. That was my topic this week for the podcast and I was interviewing somebody about that and we got to talking about the the idea of understanding the concept of just being itself and time.
And and we can understand things without comprehending them like I understand God is eternal but I don't comprehend what it means really to be eternal. I can understand God is outside of time but I really don't comprehend what it means to be outside of time.
And God in his decree decreed all things before time began he had a plan and that plan is being worked out and that's what leads us to number three. Providence is the exercise of that plan or might a better word might be his governing of that plan.
So God has a plan that's the decree. God exercises his rule his sovereignty in working out that plan. The decree through providence which happens in time. You see the decree is outside of time. The decree is is God determining this before time began.
But the providence of God is his working in our lives as it were daily interacting in our lives in working out his decree. So this is the sovereignty of God is God has a plan and he's working that plan out.
He is he is active. He is not a passive deity who sits on Neptune somewhere twiddling his thumb thumbs wondering when we're going to get it all figured out. But God is see what this is where we talk about the transcendence and the eminence of God.
God is transcendent in the sense that he is high above us and yet he is also eminent in that. The Bible says he's not far from any of us right. Act 17. Paul says he's not far from any of us. So when we think of the concept of providence it is the outworking of his sovereignty and the exercising of his decree in time.
A .W. Pink said this. And by the way if you don't know who A .W. Pink is remedy that. Okay let's just say A .W. Pink is worth your time to read all right. The providence of God and his care of and provision he makes for his creatures with his supervision and superintendents of them.
The providence of God in his government of the world is a subject of deep importance for the Christian. For by proper views thereof he will learn to see God's activity in the daily works of his hands.
Here that last part again that's really the part I want to stress by proper views of sovereignty he that being us will learn to see God's activities in the daily works of his hands. We'll see God working in our daily lives as we begin to understand his providence better.
You know I hear people say sometimes well that was a God thing. You know and I understand that phrase. You ever heard that phrase. I'm gonna say that's a God thing. Like they'll run into somebody and I'll get to share the gospel to say that was a God thing.
Or they'll they'll you know have some kind something happened. That's a guy everything's a God thing. You know what nobody ever says. I got real sick today and I spent all day vomiting that was a God thing.
But it was yeah I mean nobody wants to think that way. But you see providence is God working in everything even the hard times. There are certain things that we're all going through. Some of them good some of them bad.
You know. And it's all a God thing. God may be sanctifying us through some of the hardest moments in our life right now. Or God may be blessing us in a way that we never understood before. And now we're getting to enjoy that blessing now.
It's all a God thing. And it's hard sometimes when the when the bank account is empty. It's hard sometimes when the children's tummies are not filled. It's hard sometimes when three or four creditors are calling at once to see how God is working.
And yet he still is. That's the key to Providence is that God is still working all the time. There's a song God is good all the time and we only want to sing it when things are good. And yet that's not the point of the song.
The point is God is good anyway. And see that's the heart of Providence. Right. Because Providence is not just that God's working it's a God's working it for our good. Last year I was asked to speak at the Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals Southeast Regional Conference.
That's a mouthful. But I spoke and I was asked to speak on the subject of comforting the Saints. How to comfort the Saints. And it was during the crisis you know the COVID thing and everything. And and I was asked to come down and speak.
How do you comfort people in the midst of crisis. I preach Romans 828 God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. That was my text.
That was what I preach saying messages up if anybody ever wants to go listen to it. But that's the that's that verse is the Providence verse of the Bible. In fact I think it's on here. Isn't it. Isn't it one of the listed passages.
Yes it's the last one on the text or on the on the list of texts Romans 828 that is the verse that reminds us that God is working all things. And by the way there's a textual variant there. Some of the some of the text read all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
But some manuscripts. And I think the variant is actually the better reading of what Paul was trying to say some. Some of them say God causes all things to work together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
It puts God in the driver's seat when it's read that way. And I think it's actually the better reading because God is the one in the driver's seat even when things are tough. God is the one in the driver's seat even when things are hard.
Even when your heart is broken God is in the driver's seat. Providence is essential because it denotes that God is working our lives with wisdom and care. He does not exercise his rule as an evil dictator or a vicious despot.
He exercises his rule as a loving father. Now I know we are looking at our confession. But for a moment I want to compare another historic document. How many of you have ever heard of the Heidelberg Catechism.
It's one of what's referred to as one of the three forms of unity. It was one of the things that brought the Reformed Church together. You have Heidelberg Catechism. The no not the Westminster. It's an older confession Belgic Confession Heidelberg Catechism.
These are. These are documents that were held in high esteem among the Reformers. And the Heidelberg Catechism speaks of Providence. It says this. What do you understand by the Providence of God. And I love the way it words it.
It says the almighty everywhere present power of God whereby as it were by his hand he upholds heaven and earth with all creatures and governs them that this is funny. He so governs them that herbs and grass rain and drought fruitful and barren years meat and drink health and sickness riches and poverty.
Indeed all things come not by chance but by his fatherly hand. Now go back to our confession. What does it say. Neither good nor evil befalls any by chance. That's the point. Like brother Andy he took a little portion.
He said this is the point. And I think he was right. The point is not under compulsion that that was the point of the last one. The point of this one is really to push the idea that God doesn't do things by chance.
In fact dr. RC Sproul wrote a book. I think the book was called not a chance. Was that the name of the book where he basically explains that the idea of chance for people who believe the earth came about by chance the world came about by chance is so foolish because chance isn't something that has any causative power.
I read a quote from dr. Sproul. He says in a universe governed by God there are no chance events. Indeed there is no such thing as chance. Chance does not exist. It is merely a word we use to describe mathematical probabilities.
But chance itself has no power because it has no being. Chance is not an entity that can influence reality. Chance is not a thing. Chance is nothing. So when someone says oh that just befell you by chance say no.
This was in the providence of God. This is why it befell me. I don't understand always why I deal with what I deal with. And I don't always like everything. I want to be careful to be honest tonight and say sometimes the providence of God is what I what.
One of the writers I read this week preparing called it a frowning providence. And you know what that means. That means the the providence of God has brought something that is difficult. It's a frowning providence.
And yet still providence yet still part of the decree. And God is still working it out. And and and so you know what. What's the benefit of having that mindset. Well that mindset is it reminds us there's no such thing as purposeful struggle.
I'm sorry. There's no such thing as purposeless struggle. Every struggle has a purpose. Maybe that maybe we write that one down and put it on our refrigerator. Every struggle has a purpose because nothing befalls us by chance.
Every difficulty has a reason. You say I don't know what the reason is. Here's the thing that I said at the conference. I said here you may not ever know what the reason is. You may struggle and not find out why you did until you get to heaven.
You say no. God's got to tell me now. God didn't know you anything. God doesn't owe you an explanation for your struggle. People always say well I'm going through this because later I'll be able to bless somebody else.
What if you don't. What if you don't get to bless somebody else later. What if you just struggled and then you died. Is God any less good. You say I don't like to hear this yet this is the truth. Because the goodness of God to you is not necessarily promised to you in this life.
And the goodness of God to me is not necessarily promised to me in this life. I may not see the benefit of Romans 828 until I see the face of my Savior. What happens if tomorrow they decide they're going to close all the churches down and arrest the pastors.
Oh that doesn't happen. Well it happened in Canada. Pastor Coates was in jail for several weeks. He's out now and they're having to go into hiding. Do you ever think in your life that there was going to be an underground church in Canada that bastion of politeness.
No they're not. They're now arresting their preachers. Say it can't happen here. What if a man dies arrested and ashamed naked and beaten like Jesus. Is God any less good to him. You see that is how we understand Providence.
God is working out his plan not ours. So I always hate this. I hate it when somebody evangelizes with this opening line. And if you've ever done it I'm not being ugly but I don't like it. People start out.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. You ever started that as your evangelism approach. Let me tell you something that is not the way to start the conversation. There's one that's not a biblical way to start the conversation.
You will never find the Apostle Paul going into Corinth or or Athens or anywhere else saying listen everybody I want you to know that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. That is not the gospel.
Because you know what a wonderful plan is for most people in the world. Joel Osteen's gospel. If you just believe hard enough and think strongly enough he's going to give you the car you want and the the you know God wants you to have the best parking space at work.
That is the gospel of selfishness. Providence says God's plan for me is better than I could ever imagine for me. And he's working it out for me in accordance with his will not mine. God's plan for me is better than my plan could be even if it's a plan that I wouldn't want to do.
This is tough right. And yet isn't it true. How hard was Paul's life after he became a Christian. Before he became a Christian he was a highly respected Pharisee. He was a he was a student of Gamaliel.
He was on track to be the next big thing philosophically and theologically. And he hated Christians which means he was also on track to be politically powerful. Because he's going to go around and get rid of all the Christians.
I was going to put him as the next run up higher. You know he got a letter so he could go around and arrest Christians. Jesus saves him. By the way the conversion of the Apostle Paul those of you who are taking apologetics.
The conversion of the Apostle Paul is the greatest evidence for the for the historicity of Christianity. Because there's no reason in the world he would have converted to Christ if he didn't actually see Christ for himself.
There's nothing in his heart that would have turned him to Christ other than a true encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul's conversion is a huge reality check for those who would say well the Christianity was started by a bunch of people who just wanted to make up something.
Paul had it he had it good and he gave it up for Christ. And he became the greatest missionary the world ever knew. And he got his head chopped off in Rome for Jesus. And it was for his good and God's glory that it happened.
You see this is Providence. So.
You know it's interesting how to confession the way it's worded it says.
Whatsoever befalls the elect. Yeah that was yes. Absolutely. Because it says all. But then it then it comes in and it says. But for the elect all of this is for two reasons. The two reasons are. Great God's glory and you're good.
Everything that befalls the elect is for God's glory and you're good. I think about that because when when I think about my life I want my life to glorify God. Can y 'all say amen to that. Do you want your life to glorify God.
And so sometimes Michael my life glorifying God is gonna take me into uncomfortable places and uncomfortable positions. And yet it's for God's glory and ultimately for my good. Because what is the best thing that I could possibly do with my life.
Glorify God. The best thing I could do with my life is glorify God. John Piper. You know most of you know who he is preacher. He has a statement. And some people take issue with it. I understand what he's saying.
I think that it could be picked apart. Everything can be picked apart. But I do like this statement as far as it goes. Piper says God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. God is most glorified in us when we're most satisfied in him.
Now for a moment just think about what he's saying. He said are you satisfied in God today. Because if you're not then you're looking for something else to satisfy you. And in what way is God glorified most when you're most satisfied in him.
Rather than trying to find your satisfaction somewhere else rather than trying to find your happiness or your joy somewhere else. God is most glorified in us when we're most satisfied in him. And again it comes back to province.
How can I be satisfied in God when I don't have what I want you have. I'm gonna say this is tough. You have right now today everything that you're supposed to have today. You might say to yourself well I'm young.
I want to get married one day. I know my children older children want to be married. Well great. But you don't have a wife today. Be satisfied single today and pray that God brings you a wife or husband if that's what you want.
But understand today you don't got one. So be satisfied where you are today. Now. I'm using my children a little. But you know maybe that's unfair. I could we could we all go around and say that couldn't we all talk about things we say.
I'm really not happy today. But why not. You have everything God wants you to have today. And you have everything you need to glorify him. Well today because he said he says this he says be content with what you have today.
I have a lot of debt today. I'm not happy about it. I'm not saying me. I'm saying that. Maybe that's you. Maybe maybe you're saying I have. I have problems today. Okay. Are you in God today. Are you satisfied in him.
I know I've kind of maybe I've gone away from the confession a little bit. It's just that the heart the heart of Providence is satisfaction in God that he's working in your life every day. You say well I want to be.
I want to be a better believer. I want to be a better Christian. There's nothing wrong with that ambition. There's nothing wrong with wanting to serve God better and to glorify him better. And I'm not saying that you can't grow and you shouldn't grow.
That's all part of the process of growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's I'm not saying we should not ever have ambition. But what does the Bible say about ambition. It says be weary of selfish ambition.
Because often our ambition is not to glorify Christ office. Often our ambition is to glorify ourself. This Sunday I'm preaching on the Tower of Babel. You know what the Tower of Babel was. It was a giant ziggurat whose only purpose was to give everybody who built it a name that they could pass on to their generations and they would remember them.
It was a monument to pride. It was a monument to self. Look what we can do. We can make a tower that reaches to the heavens and you know what God did. It says God came down to look at it. God doesn't have to go anywhere but the point of him coming down and I'll talk about this Sunday of course is to show that that tower that they thought was so big and reached to heaven.
God had to come down even to see it. He had to get down as it were like on his hands and knees. Like my kids. When they're looking at ants have to get down on their hands and knees to see the ants. God says I came down to see what they were doing.
See. We build statues to ourselves. We build foundations and monuments with our names on them. But we really should be concerned with glorifying God. That's what. That's our that's our that's our one purpose.
And it's all for our good. You will never be. You will never have a better life than to have a life that glorifies God. So let me bring this to a conclusion. I know we're out of time and I do want to pray for everyone.
This section of the confession reminds us of a great promise. God is governing governing the world toward our ultimate and eternal good. In this world we will have trouble but Christ has overcome the world John 1633.
Therefore we can look at this world with hope. Providence gives us hope. We are sojourners here we are not. This is not our home. We're not planted here forever. We are moving through and therefore we look forward to what God has for us.
Bunyan's famous character Christian made his pilgrims progress through all the difficulties of the world. He went through the slew of despond through vanity fair through doubting castle. And he finally arrived at the celestial city and there.
And he found that all of his suffering was not in vain. So too will we one day make our way to a heavenly city. And in that moment the sufferings of this world will not be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.
We mustn't forget. God's Providence is his daily working for our eternal good. Amen.